To Joe Geha:

As an interested observer in the history of the Catt Hall debate, I feel compelled to write you concerning your letter to the Iowa State Daily on October 2.

As you may know I previously wrote a letter to the Daily suggesting that they publish Catt’s words so that reading, thinking people can make their own judgement on the matter. In your letter you stated:

In response to the Jane Cox’s letter of 9/30 in which she insists that people must read EVERYTHING C.C. Catt wrote and published before any opinion can be formed regarding her racism and xenophobia …

I went back to Monday’s issue of the Daily to see what Ms. Cox REALLY said: “….. I call on it to print, in its entirety, one speech by Carrie Chapman Catt each day for a period of three weeks. This speech could be introduced by a brief paragraph written by a professor in History or in Political Science and explaining the background and outcome of its original delivery. Hundreds of speeches exist; fifteen should be easy to find….”

I don’t believe that she said “EVERYTHING.”

If I understand the text of your letter correctly I assume that Catt did speak or write the phrases: “I REJECT THE STRATEGY THAT … white supremacy will be strengthened…etc,” or “America for Americans … AND IMMIGRANTS ARE AMERICANS TOO….”

If Ms. Cox WAS suggesting that we read ALL of Catt’s writing would I not find those phrases you quoted?

I, too have no desire to read hundreds of speeches, letters and books. I DO want to read the offending passages IN CONTEXT. Then I can make up my own mind rather than rely on the propaganda being distributed from all sides of this debate.

How could this be an attempt to “dodge or diffuse my opposition with such tactics.”(your words)

This morning I overheard students discussing your letter…….. One paraphrased your statement in this way:

“Don’t confuse me with the facts.”

Certainly that was not your intention?

I would also hope that you NEVER have a student who did not finish a reading assignment they did not like, respond with the words of George Bernard Shaw:

“You don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it’s rotten.”

Lets have Catt’s words out where we can (and should) read them. This is an institution of learning. What better way is there to come to a decision on the validity of the protest?

Jim Trenberth

Iowa State University Theatre